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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019

VOLUME CLIV, ISSUE 41

METRO

Couple turns Subway into family operation

Wyatt board approves controversial agreement Wednesday vote prevents facility board from terminating contract with ICE

Masnyks savor time running Subway franchise on Waterman street for six years

BY OLIVIA GEORGE SENIOR STAFF WRITER

BY HENRY DAWSON SENIOR STAFF WRITER

During a public meeting Wednesday evening, activists turned their backs on the board overseeing the Wyatt Facility. tribal agencies” such as ICE and erodes any community oversight that previously existed. The vote was originally scheduled for Sept. 16, when the board abruptly postponed the vote over unspecified “concerns” before moving into closed session, The Herald previously reported. The version of the agreement approved Wednesday evening includes slightly different language than the document under consideration in September, but there were no substantive changes discussed during Wednesday’s public meeting.

UNIVERSITY NEWS

BY KAYLA GUO SENIOR STAFF WRITER Student collective RailRoad presented to the Undergraduate Council of Students on Wednesday evening, outlining its proposal for the University to make its hiring policies more inclusive of people with conviction histories. The Council also gave updates on committee work, the UCS Fall Poll, Project Tampon and other initiatives. RailRoad is asking that the University adopt “fair chance hiring” practices, such as including conviction history in its non-discrimination statement and committing to hiring a certain number of people who have been incarcerated. In addition to advocating for amendments to the University’s hiring policies, the group aims “to ensure that the (University) hire and retain an impactful number of people with past convictions, and to institutionalize support and inclusion of formerly incarcerated

“The UMB Financial Corporation’s forbearance agreement is still, substantively, a horrifying document,” said Aaron Regunberg ’12, Never Again Action organizer and former state representative, at the public meeting. “None of its inhumane elements have been materially changed.” The vote’s delay followed a series of clashes between community members calling for the facility’s closure and representatives of the Wyatt, who have struggled to address public outcry,

SEE WYATT PAGE 4

2013, a chaotic day that Mariusz can recall clearly. “Baptism by fire is the best. If you can get through the worst part of your life in something that you’re starting, you can do everything,” he said. After the business settled down, the couple adjusted to a steady routine. Anne oversees the finances and point-of-sale for the shop, and Mariusz takes care of operations: employees, stock and equipment maintenance. “What I like about this is I’m with family. It really means a lot,” Mariusz said. The Masnyks, who married in the summer of 1982, met when Mariusz, the son of two Polish immigrants, was a sophomore at Providence College, and Anne was attending Bay Path College. At the time, Mariusz held three jobs, Anne two. Prior to opening the Subway, Mariusz spent the majority of his time working in insurance for 25 years before traveling around the country as the risk claims manager

SEE SUBWAY PAGE 4

ARTS & CULTURE

RailRoad pushes U. to disregard conviction history in hiring UCS also discusses Project Tampon, Fall Poll at Wednesday meeting

The Subway tucked on Waterman behind the Sciences Library is more than just one of the franchise’s many quick stops. It’s a local, family-run business and an opportunity for its owners, Anne and Mariusz Masnyk, to connect with each other. Inside, their Subway is neat and by-the-books. Puffy chip bags sit regimented on the rack. Huge photos of tomatoes and bread hang on the walls. Beyond the stock decorations, little spots of personality dot the store. Behind the register, a laminated sign reading “Brown Wrestling” is stuck to the wall, autographs clustered around its edges. The Masnyks have operated the Waterman Subway since Sept. 11,

OLIVIA GEORGE / HERALD

community members,” according to their presentation. “For people who are coming out of incarceration, oftentimes getting that first job is the hardest part,” said Leah Shorb ’20, one of the representatives from RailRoad. RailRoad has worked since last fall to “build a world beyond prisons, and support people and communities affected by the prison industrial complex,” according to a petition presented at the meeting. The group’s petition also demands that the University revise its institutional background check policy so that it only conducts background checks for positions that legally require them and only considers convictions when they may be directly related to specific job responsibilities, Shorb said. RailRoad also advocates for University partnerships with local nonprofits, such as OpenDoors RI which provides “services and advocacy to people with criminal records,” according to its website. Such a partnership would “institutionalize support” for organizations committed to helping formerly incar-

SEE UCS PAGE 6

Lecture honors late professor, poet Feinsod ’04 discusses C.D. Wright’s use of poetry to address societal issues BY KAHINI MEHTA STAFF WRITER Each year since the unexpected passing of C.D. Wright in 2016, the late professor of literary arts has been honored through a lecture in her name. On Tuesday, Harris Feinsod ’04, associate professor of English and comparative literary studies at Northwestern University, delivered the third annual C.D. Wright Lecture, titled “Fifth and Final Cycle: C.D. Wright’s Americas.” The lecture series was established by Wright’s husband, Forrest Gander, professor emeritus of literary arts and comparative literature. It was “really important to (commemorate her) at Brown, where she gave much of her life to students who came to the University,” Gander said. Wright taught at Brown for 33 years. While at the University, she received a MacArthur Fellowship in 2004 and won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry in 2011, among other

A&C Review

Arts & Culture

Commentary

“Jesus is King” shows Kanye’s newfound perspective on Christianity Page 2

Haitian-born artist collaborates with professor on CSSJ exhibit Page 3

Shea ’21: Republicans’ conduct undermines democratic process Page 7

DANIELLE EMERSON / HERALD

Feinsod, a professor of comparative literature at Northwestern, spoke on how poetry can give voice to common crises of our time. honors. Gander told The Herald that the lecture series was inspired by the annual reading of George Oppen’s poetry at San Francisco State University. “I really admired how a place where he lived for much of his life honored him and remembered him. And that was kind of a good model for this lecture,” Gander said. Through the lecture series, Gander hopes to introduce students to Wright’s poetry and address how her decades of work relate to themes of contemporary poetry at large.

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The board overseeing the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility voted to continue its contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and set in motion a process for the potential sale of the facility during a public meeting Wednesday evening, as activists turned away in protest. The vote at the facility’s gymnasium approved a revised forbearance agreement with UMB Bank — which is structured to alleviate the financial problems of the Central Falls facility. The bank is a trustee for bondholders who claim they are owed an excess of $100 million, The Herald previously reported. Supported by three of the four board members who were present Wednesday, the agreement prevents the 770-bed prison from terminating any of its “service contracts with any federal, state or

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Gander and faculty from the Department of Literary Arts unanimously chose Feinsod to deliver this year’s lecture. Feinsod’s writing focuses on the Atlantic region, and his latest book, “The Poetry of the Americas,” details the relationship between Latin American and North American poets. “C.D. was very interested in Latin American poetry,” Gander said. “In fact, the last trip that she came back from was to Chile.” Gander described Feinsod as a poet and scholar who is

SEE WRIGHT PAGE 6

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019

A&C REVIEW

Kanye West turns to Christianity in ‘Jesus is King’ album

COURTESY OF SWIMFINFAN

In a sharp turn toward the gospel genre, Kanye West embarks on an exploration of spiritual humility in his ninth studio album, eliciting a divided reaction from fans and critics alike.

Long-anticipated album succeeds in sound, stumbles in message BY KAITI YOO SENIOR STAFF WRITER On Oct. 25, fans all around the world breathed a collective sigh of relief when Kanye West finally dropped his album “Jesus is King,” more than a year after its original release date. The 11-song album is comprised entirely of Christian rap — a complete-

ly new trajectory for West, breaking away from the traditional hip-hop he is known for. Since the dawn of the 2000s, West has solidified his reputation as an innovative and inventive artist. His musical releases consistently bring new and distinct content to the table. From his popularization of auto-tune through pieces like “Heartbreak” and “Stronger,” to his normalization of unique ad-libs like yelling, panting and “Huh!”ing in “POWER,” West has become a trailblazer in sound experimentation and production. But alongside and perhaps fueled by those very qualities, he has simultaneously grown infamous as the industry’s largest ego. Thus, what makes “Jesus is King” so revolutionary is its mark as West’s official ideological transition from secular to religious, from God-impersonating to God-praising. Throughout his career, West has never refrained from talking about God and Christianity. In his 2004 breakout song “Jesus Walks,” his lyrics called to God for guidance amid the temptations of fame and wealth. Yet during his most outspoken and cosmopolitan era, he blatantly equated himself to God in songs like “I Am a God” and his 2013 album “Yeezus.” Now in 2019, “Jesus is King” marks the latest chapter in West’s musical exploration of his faith — no longer questioning or challenging it, but celebrating it. The album’s musical components reflect this change. It is completely devoid of profanity and instead overflowing with many musical elements

that hail from black gospel roots. It is more forthright, more direct and more zealous in both its delivery and its focus on worship. The 11-song anthology begins with “Every Hour,” a jolting and passionate track sung entirely by West’s Sunday Service Choir. With the song beginning literally mid-chord, there is no room for a build-up of anticipation or even a moment for the listener to adjust. Instead, it promptly seats the listener in the front-row pew, submerging them in exhilarated praise amid the melody’s fast tempo and loud piano crescendos. The piece extends an overwhelming, warm welcome to all, awakening and assuring us that gospel is here to stay. Rather than his actual rapping or lyrics, West’s command over the dimensions of sound as a producer — that is, his construction of an intricate musical score and a charismatic cast of featured artists — takes center stage for much of “Jesus is King.” Later in the album, West invites Clipse, a duo made up of Pusha T and No Malice, to join him on “Use This Gospel” to bring lyrical depth to the multi-dimensional, soulful piece. In their back-to-back verses — something that fans have longed for ever since Clipse temporarily dissolved for almost a decade — Pusha T and No Malice speak directly to God as if in the midst of desperate, grateful prayer. “Fashionably late, I’m just glad that you made it / The best is yet to come, I’m just glad that you waited,” Pusha T raps, expressing his gratitude for Christ’s forgiveness. No Malice continues: “They

give you Wraith talk, I give you faith talk / Blindfolded on this road, watch me faith walk,” proudly declaring his trust in God. Alongside a vocalized synth-chorus melody that is later isolated by the echo of a sole saxophone, “Use This Gospel” structurally emulates the cyclical nature of prayer to amplify its deep spirituality. In another collaborative track, “Water,” the suave croon of Ant Clemons accompanied by a swaying R&B funk melody conveys an aura of peace and purity. The song’s chorus, sung by Clemons, explores water as a motif of spiritual rebirth: “Clean us like the rain in spring / Take the chlorine out of our conversation … We are water / Pure as water / Like a newborn daughter.” Just like its liquid muse, the track flows effortlessly in its musicality and resonance. While Clemons’ verse serves as the best part of the track, West’s monotonous contribution serves as a barrier to the song’s cascading cadence. In contrast, “Follow God” truly exemplifies West’s dynamic potential when juxtaposed alongside its counterpart, “Water.” The track incorporates a 1974 sample from Christian soul artist Whole Truth’s “Can You Lose By Following God,” but overlays it with a sharp, staccato beat. The expressive and vibrant combination, supplemented by West’s unwavering, crisp deliverance, coalesces into a jaw-droppingly catchy rhythm that has the listener repeatedly coming back for more. The explicable synchroneity between West’s beat and the smooth melody epitomizes the hallmark, textured production that

West — and only West — has historically managed to master. With that said, this track, which is currently the most popular of the album on Spotify, is definitely the most in line with West’s past personas. Although “Jesus is King” does contain such aforementioned moments of production genius, it often falls short of genuine, emotional depth. In all of its grandeur, the album demands and commands attention yet ultimately falters to deliver a coherent, convincing message once in the spotlight. While biblical imagery is thickly interlaced throughout each composition and their titles, this over-saturated imagery of devotion, glory and awe sometimes comes off as cliché and superficial, evading an acknowledgment of the multi-layered nuances of Christianity within contemporary society. But West’s own lyrics and vocal deliverance do manage to contribute an extra layer of vulnerability and candidness during one particular number: “God Is.” He lets his raw vocals — all of the wavers, cracks and imperfections — shine through, untouched. His efforts to enunciate the sheer significance that God now possesses in his life are on full display in his gushing, heartfelt lyrics. “Every time I look up, I see God’s faithfulness / And it shows just how much He is miraculous / I can’t keep it to myself, I can’t sit here and be still,” he sings, striving to hit every note. It presents an entirely unseen side of West. Through such visceral words and song, West makes it clear to us just how deeply important this album is to him.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS

ARTS & CULTURE

‘The Art of Embedded Histories’ seeks to redefine Haiti Haitian-born artist Edouard Duval-Carrié explores colonialism, race in exhibit BY BENJAMIN POLLARD CONTRIBUTING WRITER When walking through the Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice and the Cohen Gallery in the Granoff Center for the Creative Arts, students will notice a new collection of vibrant and communicative works. The pieces belong to a dual installation, which opened Oct. 29, and explores the complex history of slavery, colonialism, race, migration and religion in Haiti and the broader Caribbean. Titled “The Art of Embedded Histories,” the exhibit was created by revered Haitian-born artist Edouard Duval-Carrié, and it marks the latest partnership between Duval-Carrié and Anthony Bouges, professor of humanities and critical theory and the inaugural director of the CSSJ, who curated the exhibit. The two men have worked together since 2011. “Historically there has never been much attention to the production (of Haitian and Caribbean) art,” Duval-Carrié said. The new exhibit strives to describe Haiti in Haitian terms, preventing the country’s people from being subjected to “descriptions by others … making sure people understand … the history behind (the art) and the content and what it is trying to say whether it is political, cultural, social, economic,” he added. The exhibit, which is split in two sections under the subtitles “The Kingdom of this World” and “Memory and Embedded History,” gave Duval-Carrié a valuable opportunity to better understand the country of his birth. “I am still trying to understand the place, (Haiti) is fraught with complications,” Duval-Carrié said. The eleven pieces across the two galleries use a multitude of mediums: back-lit Plexiglass engravings, mixed media embedded in resin and mixed media on paper and aluminum. The exhibit features pieces with vibrant colors and awe-inspiring visuals, but Duval-Carrié said he hopes that viewers will not be so distracted by the works’ beauty that they forget to think critically about each piece. “It might be effectively beautiful, but at the same time, what’s the intent? What’s the context? What’s the content? What’s the discourse behind it?” Duval-Carrié said. He hopes that the exhibit will therefore be an “exercise in how visuals can contribute” to dispelling negative stereotypes about Haiti and, in turn, advancing a more

REBECCA HO / HERALD

“The Art of Embedded Histories” seeks to present Haiti in its own terms with complex and mixed media pieces split into two sections. progressive view of a Haitian society brimming with history, culture and artistry. Bouges said the exhibit fits well within the messaging of the CSSJ and the Brown Arts Initiative. “What we

want to do is to really think about artists who are making interventions in the world that we live in today and make us think a little differently. Edouard’s work is about trying to rethink the history of Haiti, and the history of Haiti

is very important (for us in the CSSJ) because Haiti was the first and only successful slave revolution in the world and reshaped the entire Atlantic world of slavery,” Bouges said. Felicia Denaud GS said she felt

moved by Duval-Carrié’s work, and she believes that the exhibit captures Haiti as a trailblazing nation. “I always say Haiti is from the future,” Denaud said. “It gives us a sense of what the future can be, and (Duval-Carrié) visualizes that.”

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SUBWAY FROM PAGE 1 for CVS. Anne worked retail at big box stores like Burlington Coat Factory and Bradley. Both managed dozens of employees beneath them, but they rarely spent time together. “I had 35 years in corporate America, I never saw my wife,” Mariusz said. “We tried to reinvent ourselves and that’s what we did, from corporate America,” Mariusz added. Mariusz left CVS in 2012 and started looking into opening a business. Intent on choosing a franchise that would allow him more independence than his previous career, Mariusz chose Subway and waited for a suitable location to go on the market. After six months, the Masnyks found one, and they purchased the current location on Waterman. Since acquiring the Subway, the couple said they can enjoy more time with each other — whether in the car, or working together, or while walking their two old English Sheepdogs. The shop does not just employ the couple. Aside from the Masnyks, the shop mostly employs part-time workers, usually teenagers. “Whatever you learn here and how you perform in your job is going to reflect in your future,” Anne said. The couple values respect — for “yourself, your employer and your family,” according to Mariusz. Immediately after opening the store, Mariusz said he also remembers getting busy with feeding the University’s athletic teams. The Masnyks catered for teams, including football, soccer, gymnastics and tennis. Other customers

WYATT FROM PAGE 1 The Herald previously reported. Jewish-led advocacy group Never Again Action, AMOR and other community allies have been protesting the facility’s detention of asylum-seeking refugees and undocumented immigrants as they await trial proceedings for months. Activists have called on local politicians to ban private prisons in Rhode Island, release all ICE detainees and prohibit local and state collaboration with ICE. In mid-October, Gov. Gina Raimondo came out in support of banning private prisons. “I stand with Rhode Islanders in opposing (President Trump’s) policies,” Raimondo said in a statement, WPRI reported. “I would support legislation from the General Assembly that prohibits private prisons in Rhode Island.” James Lombardi, chair of the Wyatt’s governing body, told the crowd Wednesday: “I understand that some of you want the Wyatt shut down, and I will tell you that is simply not an option.” During the allocated time for public comment before the vote took place, activist after activist spoke out against the agreement, demanding that the fa-

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS include students coming in from the nearby library. The shop serves much of the University community, Mariusz said. “Brown is our world. Obviously we have all the employees of Brown, all the professional people, the students,” he added. Paxton Alexander ’22 considers himself a Subway regular.“The workers there are super nice. They know who I am because I always go,” Alexander said. “I like the aroma. It always smells like fresh bread. … They know my sandwich order.” “What do you want to do when you’re stressed out? I want to do the same thing when I’m stressed. I want to eat,” Mariusz said, referencing customers from the library. Donna Personeus, executive director of the Thayer Street District Management Authority, described Mariusz and Anne as strong members of the Thayer Street community. She emphasized the importance of supporting family-owned businesses: “When you spend a dollar, it’s helping them pay their mortgage, helping them (spend) money back into the community.” Mariusz and Anne enjoy running a business together and have recently bought another store in Taunton, Mass. that they also manage. “It makes it work. Love is an important thing,” Mariusz said. “Granted, we can get into arguments. But it really works. There’s more trust. And trust is key.” “You always have (each other’s) backs,” Anne said. “(I) never have to worry that he’s not going to be there.”

cility’s directors vote against the proposal or resign from their position on the board. Stephanie Gonzalez, a former Central Falls City Council member who is married to Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, read testimonies from ICE detainees across the country, including one from a former detainee at the Wyatt who said that guards had refused medical treatment to a fellow detainee. “As you weigh the advice of your lawyers to do what’s best for the Wyatt,” said Gonzalez to the board, “I hope you weigh these testimonies and remember that you are human beings first, and you owe a duty to your fellow human beings.” Lombardi stressed his belief that all detainees housed at the Wyatt are treated fairly and are in the hands of well-trained staff. In contextualizing the board’s vote, he also contested that passing the agreement was essential to the facility’s financial stability. After the vote was announced, protesters funneled out of the meeting, chanting “Up, Up with Liberation, Down, Down with Deportation!” as they left.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019

HENRY DAWSON / HERALD

Anne (left) and Mariusz (right) Masynk run the Subway on Waterman Street. The couple enjoys working together in the shop, which serves much of the Brown community.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | TODAY

CA L E NDA R TODAY

OCTOBER S

S U D O KU

“Pumpkins, Squash, and Gourds, oh my” Community Buffet 11:30 A.M. Faculty Club

Does Cybersecurity Scare You? 12:00 P.M. Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center

Halloween Social 5:00 P.M. List Art Center

Interfaith Supper 5:30 P.M. 58 Keene Street

TOMORROW Diabetes Awareness: Stop By 11:00 A.M. Nelson Fitness Center

Charlas en español 3:00 P.M. Rochambeau House

Songs of a Caged Bird 7:00 P.M. Churchill House

Halloween Party 8:00 P.M. The Underground

Q U OTE OF TH E DAY

“Poetry is the language of intensity. Because we are going to die, an expression of intensity is justified.”

—C.D. Wright SEE POET PAGE 1

C O RRECT I ON

CR O S SWO R D

A previous version of the Oct. 30 article titled “University to expand OnCall shuttle, offer Peapod discount” stated that 70 percent of undergraduates consider time a significant factor in accessing food. In fact, 70 percent of undergraduates who reported experiencing food insecurity consider time a significant factor in accessing food. The Herald regrets the error.

C L ARI F I CATI ON A previous version of the Oct.30 article titled “New podcast highlights faculty research, stories” described the podcast as featuring “conversations between the University’s most distinguished faculty members and Provost Richard Locke P’18.” It is more accurate to say that the conversations are between “some of the University’s most distinguished faculty members” and Locke.

DU C K , DUCK , P I G EON

VICTORIA YIN / HERALD

Take a break from midterms to stroll along the Providence River, and you may find a badling of ducks along with a few straggling pigeons that don’t mind pestering you for some food.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS

POET FROM PAGE 1 “smart, but unpretentious.” In an email to The Herald, Feinsod called Wright one of the most inimitable poets. Ahead of his lecture, he hoped that all attendants would gain an appreciation for her love of the written and spoken word. Feinsod was the first speaker in the series to come from outside Wright’s intimate circle — instead, he considers himself a student of Wright. “I heard her read her poems on several occasions,” he wrote, recalling an event in downtown Providence where Wright read her poems to an audience. Feinsod admitted that he was incapable of reading Wright’s poems as she would herself. “I’m glad there are recordings of C.D. reading, because once you hear her intonation you’ll read her poems with an unforgettable hill country voice in your head,” Feinsod wrote. A recording of Wright reading her work is available on the literary arts website, according to Gale Nelson, academic program director and senior lecturer for literary arts and the lecture’s host. Nelson called Wright’s poetry “timeless,” noting that he is “hopeful that the community at Brown is reading Wright’s work.” In his lecture, Feinsod highlighted how Wright used poetry to address topics like economic globalization. Feinsod analyzed Wright’s works that addressed problems relating to “the U.S.’s manufactured imperial crises.”

For example, he noted how Walmart had become a particular source of frustration for Wright — a topic she continued to address in her poetry. In the 1980s, Walmart was expanding rapidly, following Wright all the way from San Francisco to Providence. Wright responded with “an autobiographical solidarity with (the) Walmart worker,” emphasizing the wisdom of the working class in her writing, Feinsod said. “‘He suctioned every nickel from every small town pocket and he sewed / it under his lids, a veritable sheik from Arkansas,’” Feinsod read from Wright’s “Deepstep Come Shining.’” Feinsod speculated that the lines came from a 1996 correspondence between Wright and poet W.S. Merwin, who had been a mentor to Wright. “I hope we all come away with a feeling for how even an experimental poem can give voice to what Wright called the ‘common crises’ of our time. Poetry can shine that light more than we might admit,” Feinsod wrote. In addition to addressing societal issues, poetry gives insight into how “people speak and voice their inner thoughts,” Gander said. Wright, too, saw the beauty of expression through poetry, describing it in her book, “Cooling Time: An American Poetry Vigil.” “Poetry is the language of intensity. Because we are going to die, an expression of intensity is justified,” she wrote.

UCS FROM PAGE 1 cerated individuals re-enter society, said Liam Bendicksen ’22, who also represented RailRoad at the meeting. RailRoad plans to gather broader community support this fall by strategizing, coalition-building and generating “momentum and pressure,” according to their presentation. “If we can get (the University) to make these changes, (it) could have a huge impact on the rest of Rhode Island, and the nation,” Shorb said. The Council also discussed Project Tampon, a UCS initiative launched in 2016 that institutionalized free men-

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019 strual products in bathrooms on campus. Chair of Student Wellness Shivani Nishar ’20 said that students have noticed that bathrooms are not always stocked with menstrual products, so the Council wants to do “due diligence.” General body members plan to check every dispenser on campus to verify whether they are stocked with menstrual products, Nishar said. The Council emailed its Fall Poll to undergraduate students today, and UCS members discussed publicity efforts at the meeting around the poll. UCS “uses data from the poll to advocate for important campus issues,” according to the email sent to undergraduates.

Council members will also begin holding weekly office hours in the Blue Room starting this Friday to engage with the undergraduate student body, said Chief of Staff Melissa Lee ’20. At the meeting, UCS discussed current projects which include creating end-of-year reports for the 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 academic years to summarize the Council’s work. The Council’s Celebrating Staff at Brown’s Facebook page, which profiles staff members, will also be rebranded. The Council also discussed projects including a new UCS LinkedIn page intended to build connections with alums.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | COMMENTARY

Republican political stunt undermines democratic process ELI SHEA ’21 OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR

On Wednesday, Oct. 23, a faction of Republican members of the House of Representatives, around thirty strong, stormed into a closed door meeting where testimony relevant to the ongoing Trump impeachment inquiry was scheduled to be delivered. The group was led by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla, who claimed that he wanted “to know what in the world was going on behind closed doors.” The hearing was to take place in the Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, a room designed specifically for the purpose of sharing classified and deeply sensitive information with members of Congress. Many of the interloping representatives carried cellphones into the SCIF, which are strictly prohibited due to the potential threat to national security. The complete negligence regarding national safety that the group displayed is alarming, but perhaps even more alarming was the blatant disrespect shown for procedural due process. Some important background information: There are three panels conducting the current impeachment probe against President Trump — the Intelligence, Oversight and Foreign Affairs Committees, all of which contain both Democrat and Republican members who are allowed to fully participate in the hearings. Despite this, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La, stated, “We’ve had enough of (Democratic Intelligence Committee Chairman) Adam Schiff running this Soviet-style star chamber, because only in the Soviet Union would you have a process where they are trying to impeach a duly elected president in secret, behind closed doors.” But this sentiment seems to lack a great deal of context. Namely, that the current impeachment

hearings are run according to rules of conduct that a Republican majority voted to pass in 2015. Republicans developed these rules to conduct hearings regarding former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s involvement in the Benghazi attacks. In this light, attitudes toward closed door hearings seem to be rather new for many Republican members. Furthermore, it is important to remember that these hearings are not actually part of a formal impeachment, but rather part of a probe to evaluate whether im-

cussed can be appropriately redacted before being made public. Private hearings protect the legitimacy of the proceedings. In this context, the true motivation behind storming the meeting becomes clear. It is not a noble crusade to prevent unscrupulous Democrats from forming a coup against President Trump, but simply political theater with all the subtlety of a burlesque show. It seems that despite being fully aware of the rules of the House, this group, Scalise in particular, has

“It is not a noble crusade to prevent unscrupulous Democrats from forming a coup against President Trump, but simply political theater with all the subtlety of a burlesque show.”

peachment would be an appropriate next step. With this in mind, the reasons for why these meetings ought to take place in secret seem clear. If the hearings were done in public, it would be impossible to tell whether someone testifying had been influenced by the previous evidence. Private hearings also prevent purely politically motivated congressional representatives from abusing witnesses in public by asking questions simply for the purpose of invigorating their own bases. A final, perhaps obvious, reason for the hearings to be conducted in private is so that any classified information dis-

made it their mission to publicly undermine and delegitimize the proceedings by comparing the process in which Democrats are conducting the probe to the same tactics exercised by the Soviets. If you would briefly indulge your imagination, consider what the Republican and public response would have been if Democrats had barged into hearings investigating Clinton’s conduct following the Benghazi attacks. To say that there would have been outrage seems to be a significant understatement. And rightly so: Disrupting a dutifully undertaken investigation

in order to manufacture distrust and attempt to shelter a public official ought to be considered clearly wrong. This is not only wrong, but also dangerous to democratic institutions as a whole. A major portion of the Republican Caucus was willing to undermine national security protocol as well as violate the confidentiality of a closed door meeting, seemingly for the purpose of trying to prevent investigation into the president. This begs the question: Just how far will these representatives go to stop impeachment proceedings? It appears that many Republican members of the House made it their aim on Wednesday to intentionally undermine public faith in the impeachment probe when in fact, the probe is being conducted in the exact manner that the rules of the House stipulate: Rules that were put in place by a Republican majority, and rules which are necessary to protect the legitimacy of the hearings. The fact remains that if an average citizen stormed into the SCIF during a closed meeting, carrying an illegal electronic device with them, they would be arrested and possibly face punitive measures. Should blatantly illegal acts by politicians be tolerated simply because they are attempting to make a political statement? And should the public be forgiving of stunts that serve to subvert faith in important democratic institutions? If the members of this invading contingent face no consequences, it sets a precedent that allows members of the House to ignore the rules of conduct anytime there is a proceeding that they disagree with.

Eli Shea ’21 can be reached at eli_shea@brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald.com and op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.

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